Why a red zone dark sky park?

Over the past decade we have started waking up to the harm we are causing through excessive and wasteful night-time lighting. Creating a red zone dark sky park is not just about seeing the stars – although that is a wondrous thing. It’s also about being healthier, protecting our environment, and saving money.

It’s about intelligent lighting, not total darkness. It’s about planning the light so it shines where it needs to be, rather than ruining our night vision and our view of the stars.

Stars in Christchurch

A red zone dark sky park won’t achieve the night sky clarity of the Mackenzie Country – we are in a city, after all. But with intelligent lighting where it’s needed, around 1500 stars could be visible. That’s two to three times more than what we can see now.

Ruru (morepork)

Ruru: small, native owls that would be at home in an Avon River red zone dark sky park. Photo: Laura Molles

Controlling the light within the red zone would have significant health benefits for red zone neighbours, leading to increased alertness and well-being, and decreased stress and depression.

It's not just human health that would beneft – plants and animals also need a time of darkness.

Environmental benefits

Like humans, many animals also have a circadian rhythm of alternating light and darkness, and they rely on this to lead a normal life. Artificial light at night can severely disrupt their lives, whether they are nocturnal or otherwise.